The Mount Vernon Marching Mustangs color guard competed at the IHSMA Marching Band Festival in Cedar Rapids, Kennedy on Oct. 9. 

This year’s marching band show is titled “Chase” and is portrayed by the very bold color guard uniforms made up of colors like blue and pink. The color guard usually doesn’t use props but this year they went all out. Mike Owen, a parent helper to the band, made 15 boxes that the guard and band use throughout the show. 

“I think I did a good job, and as a group the guard had little mishaps, but we fought through it. Overall the show was pretty successful and I am the proudest I have ever been,” said junior Dallas Olberding, one of the three color guard captains. 

There are several solos throughout the show featuring the three color guard captains. The first solo is performed by sophomore Sarah Fluharty during “Open up Wide” the opener to the program. Dallas Olberding takes the next solo during “Handbags and Gladrags” the ballad (middle) of the show. The final solo is performed by sophomore Emily Patten during the end of “Handbags and Gladrags.” 

This year’s color guard team is built mainly on underclassmen with a total of 15 guard members. They have all adapted very well to the countless hours of practice and hard work, and it shows. 

“The color guard had a great performance despite some technical mishaps. They really recovered and performed all the way through,” said Elise Rodenberg, the color guard coach. 

The color guard was judged by Tamara Schmidt who gave a total score of 62/100. The program content was given a 33/50 and the program quality was given a 29/50.